@article{2025:bayerlein:securing_t,
title = {Securing the EU’s Medical Supply Chains: Setting the Legal and Economic Scene for Achieving Import Diversification},
year = {2025},
note = {Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union (EU) initiated the
European Health Union (EHU) to fortify medical supply chains, aligning
with broader economic security goals. Geopolitical tensions prompted
the EU to adopt a package of initiatives centred on ‘open strategic
autonomy’. This paper explores the legal and economic mechanisms for
securing medical supply chains, focusing on theWorld Trade
Organization (WTO) framework and identifying critical import
dependencies. Findings reveal a need for an economic approach to
supplement WTO rules. A methodology for identifying vulnerable medical
commodities is presented, emphasising risk assessment and import
diversification. The study highlights the potential repercussions of
export restrictions on medical goods, stressing the importance of
securing supply chains. The paper concludes with recommendations for
the EU to navigate legal and economic strategies for robust medical
supply chains.},
journal = {Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht / Heidelberg Journal of International Law},
pages = {1119--1162},
author = {Bayerlein, Michael and Agarwal, Prachi and Rudloff, Bettina},
volume = {85},
number = {4}
}